Prostanthera aspalathoides

Prostanthera aspalathoides
Prostanthera aspalathoides 'Bright Spark'
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Prostanthera
Species: P. aspalathoides
Binomial name
Prostanthera aspalathoides
A.Cunn. ex Benth. [1]

Prostanthera aspalathoides, commonly known as scarlet mint-bush, is a shrub that is native to south-eastern Australia [2] It has a compact habit, growing to between 0.3 and 1 metre high. The aromatic leaves are terete to linear-elliptic in shape and are 1.5 to 6 mm long and 0.5 to 1 mm wide.[2][3] Flowers occur throughout the year, but are most profuse in late spring.[3] These are solitary and axillary, forming a tube that is 8 to 11 mm long and may be coloured red, pink-red, orange or yellow.[2]

The species was formally described by botanist Allan Cunningham in 1834 based on plant material collected in the vicinity of the Lachlan River in New South Wales[1] It occurs in New South Wales and Victoria and South Australia.[1] The specific epithet alludes to a similarity to plants of the genus Aspalathus.[4]

Prosthanthera aspalthioides is best adapted to cultivation in dry conditions with low humidity. Plants prefer a position in full sun or partial shade with good drainage and withstand moderate frost.[3][4]

Cuttings are the preferred propagation method, as seed germinates slowly. Plants may also be grafted on roostocks of the hardier species Prostanthera nivea.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Prostanthera aspalathoides". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Prostanthera aspalathoides". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 Greig, D. (1987). The Australian Gardener's Wildflower Catalogue. Australia: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0207154600.
  4. 1 2 3 "Prostanthera aspalthoides". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 1 June 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/23/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.